The Tao Te Ching contains many paradoxes - statements that seem contradictory but neverthless express truths. The use of paradox forces the reader to interpret the meaning of the passages. Understanding the paradox brings the reader closer to understanding of the Tao. Consider the paradox in the following lines from passage 44:
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.
To understand paradox, you must think about what " the whole world" probably means in Taoist thought. The paradox helps teach the Taoist principle of being content with a simple life.
The Tao Te Ching
The Tao Te Ching contains many paradoxes - statements that seem contradictory but neverthless express truths. The use of paradox forces the reader to interpret the meaning of the passages. Understanding the paradox brings the reader closer to understanding of the Tao. Consider the paradox in the following lines from passage 44:
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.
To understand paradox, you must think about what " the whole world" probably means in Taoist thought. The paradox helps teach the Taoist principle of being content with a simple life.